Wire-stretcher.



H. s. a; M. 1). HARRIS.. WIRE STRETO'HER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1906.

'PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

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UNITED STATES A TENT TTUE.

HASTON S. HARRIS AND MARMA D. HARRIS, OF PATTONSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

mate-med April 2, 1907.

Application filed July 21,1906. Serial No. 327,160.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HAsToN S. HARRIs and MARMA D. I'IARRIS, citizens of the United States, residing at Pattonsville, on Duffield Rural Free Delivery N o. 1, in the county of Scott and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in l/Vire- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in wire-stretchers, comprehending specifically a portable tool by the use of which the line-wire of a fence may be readily stretched to any desired extent.

The main object of the present invention is the production of a tool of the class described adapted for ready connection to the line-wire of a fence and adapted in use to provide for the ready stretching of the connected wire, the construction including a specific means for insuring a relatively fixed fulcrum-support for the stretcher during the stretching operation.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of our improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stretcher, and Fig. 3 a top plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference-numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, my improved stretcher comprises a stock 1 of desired length, preferably shaped at one end to provide a handle 2 and enlarged at the opposite end to provide a body 3. Seated in a recess 4, formed in the upper wall of the body, is a wear-plate 5, provided near the relatively forward end with a projectingilug 6, the relatively rear face of which is convex in plan and preferably roughened, as at 7. The wear-plate is preferably secured in place through the medium of bolts 8, passing through the plate and through the body 3, said bolts being provided with the usual securingnuts, whereby to secure the wearplate to the body. Pivotally secured upon a pin 9, passing through the wear-plate and body of the stock, is the clamping-lever 10, which comprises a plate 11, approximating in width the width of the wear-plate and formed at the relatively forward end with a fixed face 12, positioned adjacent and arranged for cooperation with the face 7 of the lug 6. The plate 11 of the lever is provided with a rearwardly-extending handle 18, preferably of rod-like form, bent at its connection with the plate to dispose the main length of the handle on a plane above the plate, whereby to avoid obstruction in operating the lever. The free end of the handle is bent upwardly, as at 14, to provide a convenient handhold for operation. The forward end of the body 3 in advance of the wear-plate 4 is vertically extended, preferably by adding a block of material thereto, and thus providing an enlarged head 15.

A reinforce-strip of metal, as 16, is. secured throughout the upper surface of the head preferably overlying the relatively forward end 01 the wear-plate and being secured by the forward bolt 8 of said plate, the relatively forward end of the reinforce-plate being secured in position by a bolt 17, passing wholly through the head and serving to aid in securing the additional block in place. The sides of the head 15 are concaved throughout their height, as at 18, and centrally provided with laterally-projecting spurs 19. The spurs may be in any number and disposed at any desired point within the concave plane of the head, though I prefer to arrange said spurs in a plane above or approximately in alinement with the plane of the clamping-lever.

In use the wire desired to be stretched is clamped in position by a suitable operation of the clamping-lever, and thereby held in fixed relation to the stretcher through the clamping action of the faces 7 and 12 of the lug and lever, respectively. The stretcher is then positioned at one side of a post or other support, the concave face of the head providing for the relatively extended bearing, while the spurs 19 are reinforced into the material of the support with the effect to prevent slipping of the stretcher in use. Pressure is applied to the handle end in the direction in which it is desired to stretch the wire with the effect to draw upon the wire to the desired extent, the support against which the stretcher has been placed serving in the stretching operation as a fulcrum for the lever.

It is obvious that with a stretcher such as described any usual or preferred form of linewire, whether barbed or plain, may be stretched in any direction or to any extent, and that slipping of the wire or of the stretcher in use is prevented, owing to the particular construction of the parts described.

The device as a whole is readily portable and is designed to provide a simple fenceworking tool which may be readily carried and used as occasion desires. The material of the stock is preferably of any substantial wood, though it is obvious that, if desired, it may be constructed Wholly of metal. In the event of metal construction the respective wear-plates may be dispensed with and the necessary fixed parts formed integral with the body.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A wire-stretcher comprising a stock having a head, a Wear-plate secured upon the stock in rear of the head, and formed with a pro jecting lug, a clamping-lever pivotally supported upon the wear-plate and arranged to cooperate with the lug, the approximate faces of the lug and lever being relatively convex, the head extending upward from the stock beyond the upper surface of the lever and being formed on opposite sides with a concavity extending throughout the length of the head, and spurs projecting in opposite directions from the head Within the plane of the respective concavities and in alinement with the clamping-lever.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

HASTON S. HARRIS. MARMA D. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

J. F. BUROHETT, CHAS. H. NEELEY. 

